Hydration System

ABSTRACT

The invention is a hydration system that is worn on a user&#39;s arm. The system has a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material. A bladder, made of a pliable material, has a number of expandable ribs. The bladder is adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder has a generally cylindrical shape. A number of adjustable straps are attached to the bladder. The plastic straps extend around the bladder and are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder. A cap is detachably connected to an opening of the bladder. A swivel joint is attached to the cap and provides a fluid passageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of the bladder. A flexible drinking straw extends from an exterior end the swivel joint. A tube extends from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority on provisional patent application,Ser. No. 61/135,639, filed on Jul. 22, 2008, entitled “HydraGluv” and ishereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Athletes involved in strenuous aerobic exercise require 6-8 ounces offluid every 20 minutes of aerobic activity. The most common systems formaintaining hydration include water bottles, stopping at water stationsand backpack hydration systems. Water bottles are awkward to run with,require a grip (hence tightening the athlete's arms/shoulders) andresult in more plastic bottles in landfills (when using disposablebottled water). Stopping at water stations interrupts the momentum of aperson running or biking. Backpack water hydration systems are notcomfortable during hot weather and result in considerable additionalapparatus to adjust for the runner or biker.

Thus there exists a need for a hydration system that is simple to useand comfortable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A hydration system that overcomes these and other problem is worn on auser's arm. The system has a flexible sleeve, the lining of which is awicking material, integral with a pliable bladder or reservoir. Thebladder has a number of expandable ribs that allow the user to regulatethe amount of fluid contained in the bladder. The bladder is adhered tothe flexible wicking sleeve, and the combined system has a generallycylindrical shape. A number of adjustable straps are attached to thebladder. The elastic straps extend around the bladder and areperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder, and are adjustableby a hook and loop attachment. A cap is detachably connected to anopening of the bladder, the opening of which serves to put fluid intothe bladder. A swivel joint is attached to the cap and provides a fluidpassageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of thebladder. A flexible drinking straw extends from an exterior end theswivel joint. A tube extends from an interior end of the swivel jointtowards an elbow end of the bladder.

This system has flexible bladder that draws a vacuum while drinkingthrough a straw, which mitigates air intake by the athlete. The drawtube terminates at the elbow of the bladder which allows for the maximumextraction of fluid. The draw-down straps reduce the sloshing of liquidwhile exercising. The external end of the straw is positioned betweenthe thumb and forefinger, which minimizes extraneous motion for theathlete while running/biking and drinking simultaneously. The wraparound bladder cushions the arm in case of a fall. The hydration systemjust slides over the user's arm, with the user's thumb sliding into thethumb loop and forefinger in the forefinger loop, and the user is readyto exercise. This hydration system is comfortable and easy to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of the hydration system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hydration system of FIG. 1 alongthe 2-2 plane in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of the hydration system ofFIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top left perspective of a bladder of a hydration system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a top left perspective view of a hydration system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hydration system that is worn on a user'sarm. The system has a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material. Abladder, made of a pliable material, has a number of expandable ribs.The bladder is adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder has agenerally cylindrical shape. A number of adjustable straps are attachedto the bladder. The plastic straps extend around the bladder and areperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder. A cap is detachablyconnected to an opening of the bladder. A swivel joint is attached tothe cap and provides a fluid passageway between an interior of thebladder and an exterior of the bladder. A flexible drinking strawextends from an exterior end the swivel joint. A tube extends from aninterior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

This system has flexible bladder that draws a vacuum while drinkingthrough a straw, which mitigates the user's air intake. The draw tubeterminates at the elbow of the bladder which allows for the maximumextraction of fluid. The draw-down straps reduce the sloshing of liquidwhile exercising. The end of the straw is between the thumb andforefinger; which minimizes extraneous motion. The wrap around bladdercushions the arm in case of a fall. The hydration system just slidesover the user's arm, with the user's thumb sliding into the thumb loopand the user is ready to exercise. This hydration system is comfortableand easy to use.

FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of the hydration system 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The hydration system 10has a bladder 12 made of a pliable material and is generally cylindricalin shape. In one embodiment, the bladder is made of polyurethane. Thebladder 12 has a number of expandable ribs 14. A number of adjustablestraps 16 are attached to the bladder 12. The straps 16 runperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bladder 12. A cap 18provides access to the bladder 12. A swivel joint 20 is attached to thecap 18 and provides a fluid passageway between an interior and anexterior of the bladder 12. A flexible drinking straw 22 extends fromthe exterior end of the swivel joint 20, through a straw loop 24. Thestraw loop 24 is attached to the thumb loop extensions 26 of a flexiblesleeve 28. The flexible sleeve 28 is adhered to the bladder 12. Theflexible sleeve 28 is either made of wicking material or has a liner onthe inner diameter of the sleeve 28 that is made of wicking material. Atthe end of the straw 22 is a bit valve 30. Alternatively, a pull valvemay be used. A pull valve is opened by pulling on the straw 22 andclosed by pushing on the straw 22.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hydration system 10 of FIG. 1along the 2-2 plane in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.This view shows that ends of the bladder 12 are heat sealed 32 alongwith the strap 16. The interior 34 of the bladder shows a tube 36 of thetubing system that connects the interior 34 of the bladder to theexterior of the bladder. The tubing system includes the tube 36, theswivel joint 20 and flexible straw 22.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of the hydration system ofFIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This viewillustrates that the tube 36 terminates at the elbow end 38 of thebladder 12 instead of the hand end 40 of the bladder 12. When a usermoves their hand to their mouth in order to drink the liquid naturallyfalls to the elbow end 38 of the bladder 12. This allows the maximumamount of liquid to be extracted from the bladder 12.

FIG. 4 is a top left perspective of a bladder 12 of a hydration systemin accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This figure showsthe strap loops 42 that hold the straps 16. The bladder 12 is heatsealed along the edges 44.

FIG. 5 is a top left perspective view of a hydration system 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. This view shows analternative embodiment where the thumb loops,26 are in a separate thumbloop straw holder 50. The thumb loop straw holder 50 has a hole 52 forthe drinking straw 22. The thumb loop straw holder 50 is attached to thestraw by sliding the straw 22 through the hole 52. The bite valve 30 isthen placed over the tip 54 of the straw 22.

Thus there has been described a hydration system that is easy to use andcomfortable. This hydration system has flexible bladder that draws avacuum while drinking through a straw, which mitigates the user's airintake. The draw tube terminates at the elbow of the bladder whichallows for the maximum extraction of fluid. The draw-down straps reducethe sloshing of liquid while exercising. The end of the straw is betweenthe thumb and forefinger, which minimizes extraneous motion whendrinking. The wrap around bladder cushions the arm in case of a fall.The hydration system just slides over the user's arm, with the user'sthumb sliding into the thumb loop and forefinger into the forefingerloop, and the user is ready to exercise.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.

1. A hydration system carried on an athlete's arm while exercising,comprising: a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material; a bladder,made of a pliable material, having a plurality of expandable ribs, thebladder adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder having a generallycylindrical shape; a plurality of adjustable straps attached to thebladder, the plurality of plastic straps extending around the bladderand being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder; a capdetachably connected to an opening of the bladder; a swivel jointattached to the cap and providing a fluid passageway between an interiorof the bladder and an exterior of the bladder; a flexible drinking strawextending from an exterior end the swivel joint; and a tube extendingfrom an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of thebladder.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein the flexible sleeve is madeof a polyurethane with a moisture absorbent inner liner.
 3. Thecontainer of claim 1, further including a thumb strap that extendsbeyond the bladder.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the bladdercompletely surrounds the flexible sleeve.
 5. The container of claim 3,wherein the thumb strap includes a straw loop through which the flexiblestraw extends.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein an end of the strawincludes a bite valve.
 7. A hydration system carried on an athlete's armwhile exercising, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve, made of a flexible,expandable material; a bladder, made of a pliable material, with aplurality of expandable ridges, the bladder attached to the cylindricalsleeve and surrounding the cylindrical sleeve; a cap detachably attachedto the bladder; a tubing system providing a passageway from an interiorof the bladder to the exterior of the bladder; and a bite valve attachedto an end of the tubing system.
 8. The container of claim 7, furtherincluding a thumb loop straw holder attached to the tubing system. 9.The container of claim 8, wherein the tubing system includes a swiveljoint attached to the cap.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein thetubing system includes a tube extending from an interior end of theswivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.
 11. The container ofclaim 10, wherein the thumb loop straw holder includes a straw holethrough which the flexible straw extends.
 12. A hydration system carriedon an athlete's arm while exercising, comprising: a flexible sleeve madeof an elastic material having a moisture absorbent inner liner; abladder, made of a pliable material, having a plurality of expandableribs, the bladder adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder having agenerally cylindrical shape, wherein the bladder completely surroundsthe flexible sleeve; a plurality of adjustable straps attached to thebladder, the plurality of plastic straps extending around the bladderand being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder; a capdetachably connected to an opening of the bladder; a swivel jointattached to the cap and providing a fluid passageway between an interiorof the bladder and an exterior of the bladder; a flexible drinking strawextending from an exterior end the swivel joint; a pair of thumb strapsattached to the flexible straw; a tube extending from an interior end ofthe swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder; a straw loopattached to one of the pair of thumb straps through which the flexiblestraw extends; and a pull valve at an end of the straw.